Posted on 02/20/2003 5:56:37 PM PST by MadIvan
Senior politicians in the Irish Republic's parliament have launched a stinging attack on Sinn Fein accusing the party of hypocrisy during a debate on neutrality.
During a Private Member's Bill to preserve Irish military neutrality, members asked how could Sinn Fein talk about neutrality when it was linked to the IRA which still held Semtex, had purchased tons of arms from the Libyans and collaborated with the Nazis?
Sinn Fein, which has four members in the Dail, is strongly in favour of military neutrality for Ireland.
But the Progressive Democrat Liz O'Donnell, a former foreign affairs minister, accused the republicans of hypocrisy after it had tried "with great ferocity" to subvert the constitution.
"They worked actively against the policy of neutrality by collaborating with the Nazi regime against the State and the Government of Ireland, as well as against the democratic Allied forces," she said.
Outstanding. Outstanding! - Ivan
"Latterly they pursued their alleged commitment to international peace by arms deals in the Libyan desert and in fostering Eta terrorists in a fellow EU member-state (Spain).
"Their claimed commitment to the demilitarisation of Europe apparently excludes the tons of Semtex in Republican hands."
She added that Sinn Fein's apparent commitment to the rule of law did not extend to co-operating with police on the Omagh bombing atrocity.
"We all know that their alleged belief in neutrality allowed republicans to shoot members of our legitimate defence forces and garda."she added.
Tim O'Malley, the health minister, said when Irish politicians spoke about "our army" they referred to the "national defence force, the Irish Army".
"But the same is not true in the case of Sinn Fein," he said. "When delegates speak of "the army" the body they were referring to was the Provisional IRA, a group to which it was "inextricably linked".
He said: "I, for one, have no way of knowing where one organisation begins and where the other ends."
Martin Ferris, of Sinn Fein and a convicted IRA gunrunner, accused the Government of "terrible blunders" over Irish neutrality following Saturday's mass peace demonstrations against war.
The Irish fear their neutrality could be compromised by the Nice Treaty, ratified last year, and by American use of Shannon airport as a stopover for troops heading to the Gulf.
With the government voting against it, the Bill was defeated by 100 votes to 35.
Regards, Ivan

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In effect, yes. The effect of Sinn Fein's motion passing would have beem to stop US troops flying through Shannon Airport on the west coast of Ireland. The Irish government got its act together and shot it down.
Regards, Ivan
Sinn Fein are using 'political correctness' to assert their position. The old leftist ploy.
I can't call a Sinn Fein Councillor a gun-runner...oh, that would be SOOOO wrong, because they are the 'new' Sinn Fein, albeit run by thugs who spent time in prison, I'm not allowed to mention that, since they are now 'rehabilitated', and are in politics, because they can do good for the Irish electorate.
Well SORRY, I see through the BULLSHIT. I'm a journalist, and my editor also sees through the BULLSHIT. (He tells me, unless it's of immense public interest, ignore the bombardment of Sinn Fein e-mails).
Sinn Fein are NOW preying on the weakest members of society, looking for support.
They need to realise that what they do in Northern Ireland is one thing...but the Republic of Ireland has been a semtex free State since the 1920's and MOST people like it that way. Sinn Fein are THUGS in SUITS. THUGS IN SUITS. ANd I prey that the Irish diaspora in America reading this board STOP funding them.
Love, Ivan
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